Quantcast
skip navigation

Week 5 candidates released

By Loren Nelson, MN Lax Hub Editor, 05/13/12, 9:18PM CDT

Share

Surging Minnetonka boys, Roseville girls land Player of the Week finalists

Jon Dryke

The Minnetonka senior defenseman imposed his will – and hulking 6-foot-plus body – on two of the state’s most potent offenses as the Skippers defeated then No. 3-ranked Eden Prairie 8-3 on May 10 then registered an even bigger tremor on May 10 with a 16-6 victory over then No. 2-Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The two wins vaulted Minnetonka from No. 5 to No. 1 in the state rankings. Thanks in large part to the work of the punishing Dryke, the Skippers have allowed six or less goals in each of their last six games.

Grant Wilson

A Lakeville North senior, Wilson stared down two of the state’s most prolific offenses during a week that didn’t figure to be a goaltender’s delight. Wilson, however, was the cornerstone of one of the biggest upsets of the season when he made 16 saves as the Panthers stunned then-No. 1 ranked Eastview 9-8 in overtime on May 8. Wilson was superb again three nights later in an 11-10 loss to No. 6 Rosemount, making 19 saves.

Lee Stecklein

The Roseville senior midfielder scored nine goals and added two assists in three games, all of them victories, as the Raiders vaulted into the top 10 state rankings for the first time this season. She scored three goals and added an assist on May 7 against Forest Lake, scored two goals in limited action on May 9 against Hastings and scored four goals – two of them in overtime – and added an assist in a May 10 victory over then No. 10-ranked Minnehaha Academy. Stecklein, also a standout hockey player, also had 10 draw controls in the upset win over Minnehaha Academy.

Gabbi Stienstra

A Minnehaha Academy senior midfielder, Stienstra scored 11 goals in three games – two of them wins – as the Redhawks played a brutally difficult schedule against teams (Mahtomedi, Roseville and Apple Valley) with a combined 25-9 record. Stienstra scored four goals on May 8 against Mahtomedi, she had four goals and an assist on May 10 against Roseville and completed the week with three goals and two assists on May 12 against Apple Valley.

Mike Friberg

The do-it-all Tartan junior midfielder scored eight goals and added four assists in three victories as the MBSLA's top-10 ranked Titans improved to 6-1. Friberg opened the week with a goal and two assists against Henry Sibley on May 10, scored two goals against Rogers on May 11 and showed no signs of fatigue in a five-goal, two-assist performance against Mankato on May 12. He also racked up a combined 26 ground balls.

Submit your nomination

Know of an Lax player who is deserving of the STX Player of the Week honor? Use the form below to make your nomination today. All nominees will be considered for use in the next poll. Players will be nominated based on their performances Monday through Sundays each week. The previous poll closes and a new one is published each Sunday. 

* - Denotes required field

Player of the Week Nominations

  • Week 7 candidates released

  • By Loren Nelson, MN Lax Hub Editor 05/28/2012, 12:23pm CDT
  • Finalists including Minnetonka, Bloomington Jefferson girls playoffs standouts
  • Read More